100 Cool Things I Did in 2024
Hi friends! I know it’s been a while without a Sharon post, but I’m so excited to be back! The past six weeks have been filled with the hectic stuff of the holidays: hosting parties, taking trips, and buying gifts for everyone I can find. I went to Cancun with my two best friends (that’s actually what the picture for this blog entry is because it was definitely one of the highlights of my year. I love an all-inclusive resort where you don’t have to do anything except show up. After work chaos and general chaos, there’s nothing a massage at one of those resorts can’t do. And that’s exactly what I did. Anyways, just like last year, I thought I’d share my 100 activity 2024 wrapped as we approach the new year! Feels crazy that 2024 has come and gone and we are technically headed into the quarter turn of the century, but I am looking forward to writing the date wrong for the next three months:)
January:
Celebrated New Years Eve at RocBar in River North with my best friends in the world!
Got a new job, new manager, new office, and started my marketing career!
Embarked on my Chicago Apartment Search
Enjoyed the suburbs with my friends and family
Spent a weekend in Chicago celebrating my friend’s 24th and touring apartments with my roomie
February:
6. Hosted a Taylor Swift themed superbowl watch party
7. Watched DWTS Tour Live in Rosemont with my sister
8. Went to a Galentines event in Chicago
9. Did 1/3 Presentation Night of the year with my friends
10. Found my dream apartment and signed a lease in Chicago - Bucktown!
11. Went on an amazing trip to Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan! Tried the world’s coolest Asian delicacies, watched Sumo wrestlers in action, made our own sushi, went to an interactive art display, watched the cherry blossoms bloom, visited 300 shrines and temples, pet cats at the largest cat cafe in the world, took a ninja rail to Kyoto, went bar hopping there, met a Geiko and watched her perform, saw world heritage sites, like the shrine of 1000 gates and the golden temple, visited the deer city of Nara, and partied it up in Osaka. [this bleeds into March but you get that this trip is actually like 100 amazing things in one.]
March:
12. Furnished and moved into my new apartment!!
13. Held a spider for the first time at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
14. Had a lifechanging massage at NOW massage
15. Started watching Game of Thrones (it’s on here because it actually is a life changing show)
16. Hosted a Wizards of Waverly place themed housewarming party - LOL
April:
17. Flew to Nashville with the Frunks for the weekend! Lots of Taylor Swift stops
18. My amazing Seattle friend Amy came to visit me - trivia, zoo, and improv adventures
19. My little sister Daniella turned 18 - woah
20. Taylor Swift released TTPD and we had a listening watch party
21. JESS GOT A CAT. I REPEAT JESS GOT A ZIGGY!
22. I became that cat’s godmother (see 21)
23. Raided the One of a Kind market in River North
24. We hosted presentation night 2/3!
May:
25. I began my first certificate program through MIT
26. My friend Katherine and I pet cute animals at the Kuipers Family Farm
27. Many, many, many farmers market trips began
28. We began our biweekly trivia escapades (look out for a Trivia in Chicago, ranked article coming soon!)
29. I threw my sister a surprise “bed party” for her graduation
30. I experienced my first Cava bowl when it opened its first Illinois location in Wicker Park
31. Jess and I saw Beetlejuice live on Broadway in Chicago! (musical 1/4 of the year)
32. I became a mentor at work!
33. Daniella graduated from Stevenson High School
34. I performed a speech at my mom’s 50th birthday celebration gala
35. My friend and I visited Navy Pier during Memorial Day Weekend!
June:
36. My friends and I went to an Empty Bottle concert
37. Jess & I went mini-golfing at Big Mini Putt Putt in Wicker Park
38. We went bar hopping in WP for my friend’s birthday!
39. I enjoyed a candle making experience at The Castle Candle Co
40. We went to a drag birthday party for my friend!
41. My friend Sarah came to visit! Lots of Margs and catching up
42. One of many times I watched my friend Serena shine at improv
43. An incredible trip to France! Highlights include my beautiful cousin’s wedding (the first one I’ve ever been at), visiting Nice, exploring the small towns of the riviera (like St Paul De Vence), and eating a lot of delicious food. Ah how much better the countryside is than Paris, it doesn’t even come close. I could talk about this trip for paragraphs but already have in a seperate blog, so moving on. This also bleeds into July.
July:
44. Spent the fourth of July sailing on a private boat in Cannes, France
45. Attended a party on the rooftop of the OPO
46. Did an escape room with my best friends!
47. Took a day trip to Six Flags Great America
48. Fed deer and giraffes in a drive thru safari in Lake Geneva, WI
August:
49. Spent the day at Lollapalooza, at the front of the largest crowd ever watching Chappell Roan perform
50. Spent my birthday at Pizzeria Portofino and Good Night John Boy
51. My roommate through me a murder mystery birthday party!
52. Went pub cycling on the Chicago river with two of my closest friends
53. Had the time of my life petting bunnies at Cuddle Bunny
54. Watched Mamma Mia at the Rooftop Cinema Club and ate at Time Out Marke
September:
55. Visited Purdue University where my sister goes to school
56. Attended the annual Taste of Chicago festival
57. Danced all night at the Broadway Rave
58. Celebrated Ziggy’s fifth birthday
59. Attended the Quaker Oats Festival at Navy Pier
60. Watched Book of Mormon in Chicago (musical 2/4)
61. WON Taylor Swift Trivia
62. Went to World Dumpling Fest
63. Went to a prom themed party
64. Visited Champaign, IL and went to an emo themed night party
October:
65. Went to the October Jack’s Pumpkin Patch pop-up in River West
66. Celebrated my roommate’s birthday at Replay
67. Visited Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch
68. Went Apple Picking
69. Went to a Wicked Drag Brunch
70. Attended a glass blowing demonstration
71. Watched Little Shop of Horrors (musical 3/4)
72. Went to a halloween party dressed as Regina’s mom from Mean Girls
73. Went to another halloween party dressed like the Queen of Hearts
74. Trekked through a corn maze
75. Visited Austin, TX for a work conference
76. Watched Hocus Pocus at Rooftop Cinema Club on Halloweeen
November:
77. Went to a Taylor Swift themed halloween party at a bar
78. SAW THE REAL THING - TAYLOR SWIFT IN INDY BABY
79. Took a stroll in Graceland Cemetary for the fall foliage vibes
‘80. Walked around U-Chicago
81. Visited my friend Sarah in Springfield
82. Began the holiday movie marathon
83. Watched the annual Chicago Christmas tree lighting in Millennium Park
84. Hosted a Thanksgiving back home with family
85. Hosted a Friendsgiving (and went to a few) with the very best friends
86. Put our Christmas tree up
December:
87. Went to Chriskrindlemarket with the frunks
88. Watched the Nutracker at the Joffrey Ballet
89. Explored the Lincoln Park Zoolights
90. Gazed at the Christmas tree exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry
91. Traveled to Cancun to be at an all-inclusive resort with my two best friends
92. Went to both a foam party and white party while in Cancun
93. Had the best time snorkeling with turtles and checking out some caves on a Cancun excursion
94. Went to Santa Baby and 8 Crazy Nights Bars in Wrigleyville
95. Explored the city with my sister
96. Hosted a Christmas Party with my best friends
97. Did a blind gingerbread house relay at said christmas party
98. Opened presents on Christmas morning
99. Went to the Laugh Factory
100. I don’t know yet, but I’m thinking New Years Eve at Paradise Park in Wicker Park will be a good one:)
2024 also means I’ve officially kept my blog for three years, so happy third birthday, Sincerely Sharon! Even when I go MIA for a month or two, I’m so grateful I have this platform and grateful for you all that read every entry just to stay up to date on my life. No higher compliment for a Leo. Thanks to you all for being the best friends & family in the world.
Wishing you a all a safe new years eve and a remarkable year on the other side. Here’s to making 2025 the best adventure of your lives - I’ll be trying to do the same! For one last time this year,
Sincerely,
Sharon